FAA awaits more details 737 MAX software

FAA expects more details of the MCAS software before Boeing 737 MAX can return to service

The Chief of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Steve Dickson met with Boeing executives in Renton, Washington, on Thursday, September 19, 2019, to test the MCAS software reviewed in a simulator.

The Boeing Company has yet to complete a series of steps before the Boeing 737 MAX can return to service, which includes sending a pre-production version of a software update. Next week, he will meet with about 50 aviation safety regulators in Montreal, Canada to discuss the state of the plane, which has been grounded worldwide since March 2019 after two fatal accidents.

The FAA has been reviewing the proposed software and Boeing training changes for months and it remains uncertain when Boeing will perform a certification test flight, a necessary step before its best-selling aircraft can fly again.

The FAA presented a series of steps that must happen before the certification test flight, to take approximately another month before the FAA can allow flights to resume in the absence of unforeseen circumstances. Steve Dickson has communicated a fair statement in this regard by not setting a specific date for recertification at 737 MAX.

The American regulator is satisfied that Boeing has responded to the questions leaving clear directives for Boeing to complete. Steve Dickson has said: “We have had conversations about the importance of making sure that we are seeing the complete documentation and not the fragmentary documentation. It is really better to be very methodical and very detailed instead of trying to rush a partially completed product and then say: ‘We will get in touch with you with the rest”.

Boeing plans to review the 737 MAX software to receive information from both Attack Angle (AOA) sensors in the anti-lock system linked to the two fatal accidents. Boeing has repeatedly said it expects to resume flights early in the fourth quarter (4Q2019). The company reiterated on Thursday, September 19, 2019, that it remains committed to working in collaboration with the FAA and other regulators.

Next phases

The FAA still needs to see the final description of the Boeing system, a 500-page document that has the Flight Control System architecture and the changes they have made. Software changes must be in a preproduction code and not a beta version. “We need to see that level of refinement and there has been a good round-trip time and some constructive discussions. Until it is blocked, we must ensure that there are no new fault trees that have developed that need to be mitigated”.

Once the system description is completed, the FAA will work with Boeing to develop the integrated system security analysis, a step that will take a few days. Then, the FAA will move on to the next phase: the pilot workload management scenarios. Once this is done, the agency will be much closer to a predictable schedule for when the actual certification test flight will occur.

The FAA plans to receive contributions from international regulators EASA, Canada and Brazil. “We have American and international pilots who must be scheduled to go out and go through the scenarios that must complete the training requirements”, concludes Steve Dickson. A \ W

The Dubai Airshow 2019 will build on the overwhelming success of the last event which drew
79,380 trade visitors from around the world, 1,200 exhibitors from 63 countries, 1,603 international
and regional media and an order book in excess of US$ 113.8 billion.

IBAS 2019 / INTERNATIONAL BRAZIL AIR SHOW

The first Brazilian event focused on the international aerospace industry and airport infrastructure, IBAS – International Brazil Air Show will bring together leaders of the global air segment to discuss the development of the sector in Latin America.

The 2nd Edition of IBAS International Brazil Air Show will be held on September 11th, 12th and 13th, 2019, at the GRU Airport – São Paulo International Airport. The first Brazilian event focused on the international aerospace industry and airport infrastructure, IBAS will bring together leaders of the global air segment to discuss the development of the sector in Latin America.

E-MAIL > comercial@ibas.aero
TEL > +55 11 3032 5633

WEB > www.internationalbrazilairshow.com.br

MAKS 2019

MAKS 2019 will take place between August 27-September 1, 2019 in Zhukovsky

MAKS (International Aviation and Space Exhibition) is an international air show organization that takes place at Zhukovsky International Airport, home of the Gromov Flight Research Institute in Zhukovsky, located 40 km (25 miles) southeast of Moscow, Russian Federation. The event is organized by the Government of Moscow and Aviasalon. The first show, Mosaeroshow-92, was held in 1992. Since 1993, the air show was renamed MAKS and is held every two years in odd years.

MAKS is an important event for the Russian aviation industry and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Although it started primarily as an entertainment event, the program soon became a market in which Russian aerospace companies could negotiate export contracts and Russian airlines could establish foreign contacts.

The main business of the Aviasalon JSC organizer is the preparation and management of international aviation and space halls (MAKS), exhibitions, round tables, conferences and other scientific and technical, commercial and cultural events, both in Russia and abroad.

Paris Air Show 2019

The 53rd Paris Air Show will meet between June 17-23, 2019

The International Exhibition of Aeronautics and Space 53rd Paris Air Show is organized by SIAE, a subsidiary of the Group of French Aeronautics and Space Industries (GIFAS). The 53rd edition of the fair will take place at the Le Bourget exhibition center from 17-23 June 2019 and all the players in the global industry will meet again to discuss the latest technological innovations. The first 4 days of the show will be reserved for professionals and 3 days for the general public.